Sitting anxiously in front of their television screens, awaiting the mysterious Quarter Quell twist on this years Hunger Games, is what every family in
Panem is doing at this precise moment in time.
President Snow Jr, the son of the late President Snow is standing tall dressed in the capitol's finest clothing at a podium on a balcony attached to his late father's house. He has in his hands the blood red envelope that will determine the tribute choice for this years games. Everyone and everything in Panem falls silent as he begins to cautiously and slowly break the seal to the envelope. This is the moment everyone in Panem has been waiting for. Only the sound of beating hearts, heavy breaths and the seal on that envelope being broken can be heard through out Panem.
President Snow Jr pulls out a white piece of card from the envelope which has the golden outline of a rose neatly printed on the back. He places the opened envelope on the podium in front of him, clears his throat and begins.
"My people of Panem. As per usual every 25th year of celebrating these marvellous Hunger Games we have a Quarter Quell. Each of the envelopes were placed in this box on the opening of the first games, and no one but the first creator knows what is written on the card inside. Right lets get down to business." He breaks for a moment. Looks down at the card in his hands and looks up again. Once again he clears his throat.
"This year for our 100th anniversary of the games, for each tribute chosen, one family member over the age of 12 related to that tribute, will join that tribute in the arena." Cheers burst from those living in the capitol. Tears stream down the faces from the families in the districts. This is not what they expected. In all the ruckus of the capitol the president manages to finish his speech by saying "Happy 100th Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour." He then leaves the balcony with the two towering doors slamming behind him.
The people in the Capitol are riled up, screaming cheers and clapping at the thought of this, where as families in the districts are devastated at the thought of at least one or even both of their family members will definitely die in the arena if their child is chosen as tribute. All districts, except the career districts, one and two, who will also be riled up by this change in the games.
The following day is reaping day. All the children in all the districts between the ages of 12 and 18 line up in their holding pens after checking in. For the 12 year olds the reaping day is all a bit of a shock. You can tell they are overwhelmed and scared as hell by the looks on their faces. They are too young to be put through all this fear and suffering. Truthfully no one should have to live with this fear hanging over them year after year. Knowing what awaits everyone stands in silence when they are lined up. Everyone hoping they don't get picked.